The Portland daily press., 1887-08-23
HOW ARAPAHoES RIDE.
A Wonderful Exhibition of Horseman-
ship.
General James S. Brisbin.


One day Chief Friday said to me he would
like to show off his young men and let me
see how well they could ride, At first 1 ex-
pected some treachery, as the whole herd of
ponies were still in the hands of the troops.
The old chief, however, was so earnest and
apparently honest about it that | told the
captain, who had the herd in charge, he
might let Friday have fifty ponies for his
young men. In obout an hour they drew UP
before the tents in war paint and feathers,
and were as fine looking set of young fell
lows as had ever seen. Hardly one but was
six feet in height and beautifully proper
toned. They sat their horses like centaurs
and were ease and grace itself in the saddle
AT signal from the chief they began their
movements with yell that sent the blood
curdllng in the heart, and was enough, if
heard unawares or in the nighttime. to make
ones hair stand on end. In a moment they
had disappeared over neighboring hill to
the right, and thought they had gone but,
hearing a mighty trampling Of horses,
looked to the left and there they came.
can compare it to nothing but the wind
and they swept by SO swift and compact that
they looking like ball of horses and men.
Splitting in two, one body swept to the right
and another to the left and again disap-
peared. In about two minutes the two bodies
3. L
ed almost breathlessly for the shock, but as
the horses heads almost touched each other
the files sklllfully opened to the right and
left and the lines passed through the inter-
walls without touching. Wheeling to the right
about they passed back in an instant and
again disappeared over the hills. 1t was
about fifteen minutes before they came in
sight, and Friday Informed me they were
blowing their horses. Presently on they
came and wheeled by tours, and finally de-
ployed as skirmlshers. 1t was now we saw
the finest individual horsemanship. Some
would approach lying so close to the pony's
back nothing but the horses could be seen.
others stood up and rode as circus men do.
Some would hang with one foot and one
hand on the horses and sweep by, their bod
les completely protected by the bodies of the
animals. Some leaped upon the ground,
holding to the name of the horse, and after
running step or two would swing them
selves up on the backs of the horses again as
easily as any circus man could do it. The
positions they assumed and the feats of
craftsmanship they performed were incredi-
Bile, and doubt If anything outside of cir
Gus ring ever equalled it. They would throw
objects on. the ground and PICK them up
again while passing at full speed, the warri-
ors hanging to the sides of the horses with
one foot and one hand. They drew bows
and SHOT arrows from underneath the necks
and even bellies of their horses while riding
at fast gallOp.
as these indians did if each man was trained
for twenty years. They exchanged horses
while riding and got behind each other. One
man would fall off his horse as if wounded
and two others would ride up beside him and
taking him by an arm and leg, swing him be-
tween their horses and carry him off. The
exhibition or drill. as Friday called it, lasted
nearly two hours, and the men and horses
were completely exhausted. / had never
seen such magnificent feats of horsemanship
IN my life, and freely said so. At this Fri
day was much pleased, and calling up the
young men repeated to them in loud voice
what had said, and added few words of
his own complimenting them. The young
men were very proud of the manner in which
they had acquitted themselves, and l could
Imagine the feelings of their parents and
sweethearts. The performers were much
worn out, some of them being hardly able to
stand after their violent exercise, and all the
evening | saw them lying in the lodges,
were the Indian women brought food and
water. bathed their hands, arms and limbs,
and cOmbed their hair